Gumby gives up; Police keep the suit

In this surveillance video taken Sept. 5, 2011, and released by San Diego police, a suspect dressed like Gumby tells a convenience store clerk he is being robbed. (AP Photo/San Diego Police Department)— AP

In this surveillance video taken Sept. 5, 2011, and released by San Diego police, a suspect dressed like Gumby tells a convenience store clerk he is being robbed. (AP Photo/San Diego Police Department)
/ AP

Jacob Kiss, 19, the man who detectives said tried to rob a Rancho Peñasquitos 7-Eleven last week dressed as the famous claymation character, surrendered Tuesday with an alleged accomplice, San Diego police said.

The two men voluntarily went to police headquarters, where investigators interviewed them Tuesday morning, Hassen said. He said Kiss brought the Gumby suit and detectives confiscated it.

Kiss and Giramma were then released. The case was sent to the District Attorney’s Office to determine what, if any, charges will be filed against them, Hassen said.

Police said a man in a Gumby costume and an accomplice went into the store on Carmel Mountain Road near Paseo Montalban on Labor Day about 12:30 a.m.

Surveillance video showed the smiling character walking into the store with his arms raised over his head.

He then walked over to the register, put his gloved hands down and leaned his wedge-shaped head over the counter. Police said he told the clerk, “This is a robbery.”

The employee, who did not recognize the Gumby character, thought it was a prank and dismissed him, police said.

Gumby insisted he was serious and said that he had a gun, but when he tried to reach into his pocket the costume got in the way. After fumbling around for a minute all he managed to do was drop 26 cents.

In the meantime his accomplice, who was not dressed as a cartoon character, had already gone outside and was in a minivan, honking the horn.

The video shows the clumsy would-be robber struggling to keep the green suit on as he walked out the door.